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Who can forget the acquired taste of home-cooked Bitter Gourds? Bitter gourd or bitter melon bolder have been in use in India, especially in the northeastern region for years now. It’s a member of the Cucurbitaceae family and grows on a vine. This variety of bitter melon is popular for its short and narrow shape and skin covered in prickles along the vertical ridges. When mature, the fruit of this variety of bitter melon will average to 8-10 cms in length and the white flesh will have a dense, and firm texture with flat seeds. The texture is rather crunchy with a relatively bitter flavour than other bitter melon varieties in use. The plant is a fast-maturing kind and is extensively cultivated for a variety of stuffed gourd recipes. It’s best to remove the white flesh and seeds before preparing the rough skin for consumption. Bitter gourd bolder is an excellent source of Vitamin A and C, potassium, folate, iron and fibre. You can try soaking the slices of bitter gourd in saltwater for 30-40 minutes prior to cooking to reduce some bitterness.
Growing guide for Bitter Gourd - Small Seeds
Planting instructions
Start preparing the planting bed prior to planting with some organic compost or aged manure and get rid of weeds and debris if any. Sow seeds at a depth of ½ inch with 8-10 inch spacing. In optimum growing conditions, seeds should start germinating within a week of planting. To save space and avoid fruit rot on moist soil, let the climbing vines grow vertically with the help of some trellises spaced apart in raised beds.
Growing Requirements
pests & diseases
Bitter gourds are prone to attack by pests like fruit flies and cucumber or pumpkin red beetles. Another bitter gourd specific disease that can harm the plant is bitter gourd mosaic. Yellow patches can appear on the leaves and cause the leaf sizes to reduce. Regularly checking the plants for any such issues can prevent these in time. Diluted neem oil can be used to manage and control pests and diseases.
soil
Well-draining soil mixed with manure or organic compost works best in case of bitter gourds. You can also top-dress the soil during the growth stage to instil more nutrients into the soil.
spot
Bitter gourds are best grown in a sunny site with hot and humid conditions.
temperature
The ideal germination temperature for bitter gourd is between 25 and 28°C
watering
It’s best to water the soil evenly a day or two prior to the sowing. Keep the soil evenly moist with regular watering every alternate day. Watering is essential to get fully formed fruits on maturity.
how to harvest
Bitter gourd bolder will be ready for first picking in 30-40 days after germination. The fruits of this variety of bitter gourd will be relatively smaller, averaging between 3-4 inches.
The shape of the bitter gourd will be somewhat resembling that of a pear. Harvest the fruits before the gourds start turning yellow on the vine. Eventual pickings should be scheduled every third or fourth day to promote more yield.
Disclaimer:
The productiveness of any seed we sell is subject to your local climatic conditions*, the sowing method you adopt, and your commitment to the planting process. We give no warranty, expressed or implied, and are in no way responsible for the produce.
Please note that all our seasonal recommendations/ sowing information is as per the local climatic conditions. *For more information on the optimum conditions required for growing seeds in your region, please contact us at, hello@allthatgrows.in or Whatsapp us at, +91 8544865077
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